Method of and apparatus for releasing projectiles from moving carriers



E. BECKER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASING PROJECTILES FROM MOVING CARRIERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. ms.

1,332,022. Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

\ avwentz E. BECKER.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-26. l9l8.

Patented Feb. 24,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASING PROJECTILES FROM MOVING CARRIERS.

E. BECKER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASING PROJECTILES FROM MOVING CARRIERS.

' APPLICATION FIL ED AUG.26, 1918'. 1,332,022.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EDMUND BECKER, or wnsnmeron, DISTRICT or coLuMBIA.

METHOD on ANDYAPPAR'ATUS ron nELEAsIne rno nc'rILEs rnoMMovIne cAnRIEns.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

Application filed August 26, 1918; Serial No. 251,419.

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND Bnonnn, a citizenof the United States,residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have in vented new anduseful Improvements in 'Methods of and Apparatus for ReleasingProjectiles from Movin Carriers, of which the following is aspecification.

1 Dropping bombs from a fiyingaeroplane is a. complexoperation and thehitting a target from a great height is'uncertain and erratic, andefliciency can only be expected from low flying, within easy rangeof'the anti-aircraft guns. h

The present invention comprises a method of and apparatus for droppingprojectiles from a moving carrier, the method comprising releasing theprojectile, releasing a counter-weight arranged to travel in theopposite direction from the direction in which the projectile isdeflected by the momentum; of the carrier, and causingsaid'coim'ter-weight -to come in contact with the projectile tocounteract or offset the momentum of the projectile and to cause it tofall by the force of gravity the invention further comprises anorganization of apparatus H elements adapted to perform the aboveprocess consisting of means for supporting a projectile upon a movingcarrier, a counter-Weight arranged in proximity to the projectile,meansfor maintaining the counter-weight at a gi-ven'tension and releasingmeans for the counter-weight operable by the release of the projectileIto cause said. counter-weight to move in a direction opposlte to. that.1111-.

parted to the projectile by the momentum of the "moving carrier, thecounter-weight and the projectile being arranged relatively to each:other so that. the counter-weight will come in contact with theprojectile to offset or overcome the horizontal momentum of theprojectile; all as more fully hereinafter set forth'and as claimed.

Thepresent method offlreleasing projectiles from a moving carrierisiparticularly adapted for use in'dropping bombs from 4 aeroplanes,dropping sacks of mail from aeroplanes and dropping mail sacks frommoving trainsSWhen a bomblor other .de-

.vice'is released from an aeroplane or other carrier there are twoforces acting uponit,

the force, of gravity andthe momentum of the bomb caused by the movementof the carrier. The object of the presentinventlo'n {to overcome thesecond mentioned force and cause the bomb to fall in a substantiallyratus before and after release; Fig. 5 the plan of the cradle of thebomb; Fig. 6 its elevation; Fig. 7 apart of the apparatus showing bomb,cradle and striker before release; Fig. 8 the same as Fig. 7 but afterrelease; Fig. 9 a hook of the cradle in perspective. 1 e

In all the drawings,the respective direetions of motion are indicated byarrows Y, Z. Bombing is subservient to the three fol lowing physicallaws First Zaw.A bomb-B, Fig. l, dropped from an aeroplane flyinghorizontally in the direction Y, Z, does not fallin the straightvertical line a, b, but describes the parabola a, c, T, which is acomponent ofits momentum at the instant of its release with the gravity%g|2, and this parabola will vary according to the weight of the bomb,the

horizontal velocity of the aeroplane and the body B of the same. massand velocity is not' required, because Mofcan be reacted against by mV,that is :-'a smaller mass actuated-by a proportionally greater velocity:

poses: 1st, to keep down the mass of B,

thereby reducing the weight of the apparatus and diminishingits'momentum which, in this case, acts contrary to its intended action;2d, to makethe same apparatus suitable for a greaterrange in sizes ofbombs.

The bomb-releasing apparatus, Figs. 3,-

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, consists principally of the following parts: the bomb Bsuspended to latch-bar F L pivoted on p, counterrstriker B on bent leverC D pivoted on P, and the two springs s and S. 7

As perfect elastic bodies rebound after impinging, the face ofcounter-striker B is overlaid with compressible, shock-absorbingmaterial (cork or cushion) so; as to act as a pusher rather than as ahammer; the same-,- deadening could also be applied to the bomb itself,but it would unnecessarily complicateits making- 7 Fig. 3 .shows theapparatus ready for release;

Fig. etshows the apparatus after release.

In these two figuresthe elements of the ap-' paratus fixed toand partsof the body of' The center. .ofgB in Fig. 3, before release, is shownatv the heightt, while in Fig. 4: it.

has'lowered to. u. at the instant ofstriking;

' this distance t, u is necessary to meet. the

conditions ofthesecond precited law, Fig.

2, viz: a free falling body struck normally along; the line of its axisof motiona Striker B. is actuated by. the resilience ofrelaxedspring S,the power of which can.

be varied initwo-wa'ys: 1st,..turning ineither 'directionthe: sc1'ew.E,which by itsx'endfaceplate e permitsto .tune the compressionof S to themost'delicate;degree;-J2d,'

replacingjs by a lighteror a heavier spring.

Tables have been prepared to indicatetov the bomber the compression and.the spring required for every and each condition.

To arm the-apparatus, see Fig. 3, the bomb-B, hung by rope H'torings iandk, pulls.--down the.end F of bar'F Lto rest on shelf9 of the frame;plate '6 havingbeen screwed backward, spring S has been re- '-ducedtoits minimum of compression; lever CDof striker 'B' is pivoted toward euntil. snapped'by latch-:Land 6 being screwed forward to the distance:indicated by: the

. tables, the apparatus is rca dy 'for action.

When, seeFig. .4Qthe-cord .H is-cut at 'w, 01:, the' bar F L free fromthe weight of the bomb .B' and pulled by the spring 8, in

.ated by crank.

tension, liberates lever CD and striker B stopsthe forward momentum ofbomb B as it begins to fall; 4

Ihave chosenthe release as operated by the cutting of the rope'H, thisbeing more simple to establish, describe and illustrate,

but'any other suitable mode of suspension of the bor lifla-airl quickrelease could be invention and-its; basic principle/8,11; hm

shown in Figs-.-; 1,2, 3: and 4-the bomb-'3 and itsv strik'erfBfi asspheres, the cornea of gravity of the sphere being also. its: (sumoffigure; but in Figs. 6,6 and 7the apply ratustakes a more practicalform, and-the sphere; of- B] is replaced by, a. cylinder. and that of B"by a prismatichammer with a concave face which fits the convexity of thebomb, as shown in-Figs; 5.and 6-;in Figs. 7 and 8, tosimplify-thedrawing, Bxfis shmm as: a blade withoutthickness; also, aswe: are considering here; the. use of. .bOmbsofi great bulk andgweight,the'jringsk of lever FL has been replaced by. the winch K open 0 i orany: other mechanical;- power.;

- As, -.to conform to" the 'preparedtlblam" theforce of the reaction is;to be. uniform; reliable and constant for each bomb of itI- givencaliber and weight, the bomb has to be made; an integral partof {thefiyingaem plane until liberated to i fall: unrestrained through space,-until .at: the;:level: u, itvis struck; in. ,such:.manner that..it is.reacted: upon normally to: the vertical and. theahori'e zontalaxes-ofits centerflo'f gravity, th'a-r.

cradle S- bEenadded: as; an essential thoughindependent adjunct of." thHelm v pparatus.-, 1 no Thezcradle cylindrical in Shape-ma encircles notmore thanv seven-sixteentlis of the circumference of "the p 5.? shows itat 6; .ltumed: outland widenedfto offer. an easiewentrancefor thebombr1% is hung to Land rigidly braced itothetframe of .the' aeroplane byvstraps a 5; anopening U at the back is pnovidedfor B" tolstrike thebomb, and six inverted n, with. projecting'ends.asshown on- Figk 9; .120are placed on the inside, at -top and tom and: at centeran'd sides; thebomb;:t1m-

top' of which is xtapered to enter the cradle.- fI'Om'IbBlOW, isprovided, with belts mg-atii heights corresponding to hooks n,- shown:by Fig. 9-in perspective. Belt m could bare-:

. placed'byfany other adequate loop,-

or pocket:v p V The bombB, see Fig. 7,'havingbeentrans-" ferred from thebomb-store of the aero- 'mo plane, by means of rope H on winch K, to thecradle V, is pulled up to engage belts m into hooks n, until snuglyhoused in place.

It is then ready for the arming of the apparatus and the operationproceeds as explained for Figs. 3 and 4; the rope being cut at w w, thebomb, see Fig. 8, falls from t to u, where, disconnected from hooks at,its horizontal momentum is eliminated by the counter-blow of B.

It is obvious that the radii and the heights of cradles V shall agreewith the corresponding dimensions of the bombs.

I claim:

1. The method of dropping projectiles from a moving carrier whichcomprises re= leasing the object, simultaneously releasing acounter-weight adapted to travel in the opposite direction to that ofthe carrier, and causing said counter-weight to come in contact withsaid object to overcome the momentum of the object caused by themovement of the carrier.

2. The method of dropping bombs from an aeroplane which comprisesreleasing the bomb simultaneously, releasing a counterweight adapted totravel in the opposite direction to that of the aeroplane, and causingsaid counter-weight to come in contact with said bomb to overcome themomentum of the bomb caused by the movement of the aerothecounter-weight to move in a direction opposite to the direction oftravel of the moving carrier and to come in contact with the object. I

a. In combination with an aeroplane, a bomb releasing apparatuscomprising bomb supporting means, a counter-weight positioned withrespect'to the bomb, means for maintaining the counter-weight undertension, releasing means for the counter-weight operable by release ofthe bomb to cause the counter-weight to move in a direction opposite tothe direction of travel of the aeroplane and to come in contact with thebomb.

5. In combination with an aeroplane, a bomb releasing apparatuscomprising sup)- porting and releasing means for the bom acounter-weight arranged in proximity to the bomb, a pivoted supportingmember for said counter-weight, means for maintaining pressure upon theopposite end of said pivoted member, and operating means to cause saidpivoted element to respond to said pres sure when the bomb is releasedwhereby the counter-weight is moved in the direction opposite to thedirection of travel of the aeroplane and is brought into contact withthe bomb to overcome its momentum.

6. An apparatus for dropping bombs from a moving aeroplane whichcomprises bomb supporting means, a counter-weight disposed near thebomb, pivoted supporting means for the counter-weight, a spring arrangedupon one end of said pivoted supporting means and adapted to move thecounterweight in a direction opposite to the path of travel of theaeroplane, means for normally maintaining the supporting element andcounter-weight in inoperative position, and means for releasing thepivoted supporting member upon release of the bomb and causing saidcounter-weight to come in contact with the bomb to offset the momentumin the bomb caused by the travel of the machine.

7. An apparatus for releasing bombs from moving aeroplanes whichcomprises a pivoted supporting member for said bomb, a counter-weightarranged near the bomb, supporting means for said counter-weight, meansfor maintaining pressure upon the counter-weight, said pressure beingadapted to move the counter-weight in a direction opposite to thedirection of travel of the machine, a latch carried by said pivoted bombsupporting element adapted to engage said counter-weight support, saidlatch being adapted to be disengaged upon release of the bomb wherebythe pressure exerted upon said supporting element causes thecounterweight to move in a horizontal direction and to come in contactwith the bomb to overcome its momentum caused by the movement of theaeroplane.

8. An apparatus for releasing bombs for moving aeroplanes whichcomprises a pivoted supporting member for said bomb, a counter-weightarranged near the bomb, suppol ting means for said counter-weight, meansfor maintaining pressure upon the counter-weight, means for adjustingsaid pressure, said pressure being adapted to move the counter-weight ina direction oppoSite to the direction of travel of the machine, a latchcarried by said pivoted bomb supporting element adapted to engage saidcounter-weight support, said latch being adapted to be disengaged uponrelease of the bomb whereby the pressure exerted upon said supportingelement causes the counterweight to move in a horizontaldirection and tocome in contact with the bomb to overcome its momentum caused by themovement of the aeroplane.

EDMUND BECKER.

